I bowl with a 5 person team in a scratch league that has existed for a long time. Two of the team members have bowled together for over 30 years another for over 20 years and I have been with them the last 15 years. The 5th member has been a revolving door over the last 10 years. 10 years ago we had a very good bowler in the 5th bowlers spot and we won the scratch league one year and ended up 2nd the next year by ½ game. This same team travels to ABC nationals each year as well.

To make a long story short we have gotten old. Everyone on the team is over 50 and one of the guys who have been together over 30 years game has degraded badly the last few years. The league became a traveling league this year and a couple of the guys have struggled with that as well. The net result is that we are near the bottom of the league.

Our sponsor, the anchor bowler, and the long time member is struggling with us no longer being competitive in the league. The only solution to this would be to replace a couple of the members on the team with one of these being the other 30 year team member. I believe he is too nice a guy to ask the one member to quit.

Loyalties die hard and it’s too bad these team members can’t see what is happening.

My heart saddens when reading your post because I know who you are writing about.  I started in the league after Tommy had basically retired, so I missed your really big glory days, but I can definitely see why you won the league.  I saw how hard it was for Tommy to hang them up even though his body gave out on him.  First, Rose Bowl East closes and now your team may break up.  Almost brings a tear to my eye.  You must know that if I had any good advise, I would gladly offer it, but I don't.  Your team just has a difficult decision to make.  Let me know what happens.  Miss you guys.  

Dang PB, you really hit me hard because it made me think about what I will do when Dad can't make it anymore.  He's still competitive, but with all of his physical problems, he can't possibly make it too many more years.